Special Education Advocacy in San Mateo

To Inspire Possibilities and Opportunities...

Lydia Davies, M.Ed.

Professional Experience

Lydia Davies, M.Ed.,is a former Special Education teacher with a Masters Degree in Special Education. She has worked with families and advocated

for students both as a teacher and case manager. She brings that experience and expertise to her continued work in advocacy. She has effectively worked with students with diverse disabilities and varying ranges of abilities.

She has implemented numerous Individualized Educational Plans (IEP's), developed effective Behavior Support Plans and has been on IEP teams with a range of service providers. She brings first hand experience and knowledge of the Individual Educational Plan process. This includes creating appropriate educational goals based on present levels of performance and assessments with consistent measurements. She is experienced in doing a variety of educational assessments, collecting data, reviewing the results and applying those findings to sensible recommendations with achievable outcomes.

She knows that to work successfully with any child you must have direct knowledge of the child’s areas of need and their strengths. To serve exceptional children she understands the importance of communicating a child’s needs and strengths clearly for positive outcomes. She is dedicated to working towards a successful IEP that truly is as individual as every child is and meets their needs.

L. Davies Advocacy follows the Voluntary Code of Ethics as put forth by the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. This Code of Ethics is presented on the Services page..

Personal Inspiration:

I met Ed Roberts when I was around 10. His family lived in the neighborhood and our mothers were friends. At 14 Ed became a paraplegic when he contracted polio before the Salk vaccine was available. Ed's mother believed in her son and that he should have all the opportunities that everyone else did especially a right to an education. She taught her son to be an advocate for himself through her advocacy for him. The first step was having him return to school to be educated with his peers. Ed was an amazing person who only had the use of two fingers and some toes. Ed was positive, kind and warm. He was first told he could not go to school or ever hope to work. Ed Roberts became an activist and is known as the "Father" of the disability rights movement. He proved he could achieve everything he set out to do and more. He obtained a BA and Masters degree from UC Berkley and was accepted into a PhD program. Ed’s life was full of firsts with an attitude to never give up. He advocated for all persons with disabilities to have equality, access and independent living. He later became the Director of the California Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. He also co-founded the World Institute on Disability and accomplished much more. Ed was an inspiration who taught through example that persons with disabilities could achieve their dreams if given the opportunity. He inspired me to follow my dreams to work with exceptional children and advocate for their rights.

2015-Current L. DAVIES ADVOCACY, SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVOCATE

Advocate for families with exceptional children supporting educational rights.

Attend Annual and Triennial IEP's and Section 504 Plan meetings. Assists in the

IEP process and development of IEP goals based on present levels of performance,

strengths and areas of need. Supports goals tied to consistent measurements.

Supports accommodations and modifications, services and all areas of the IEP.

Consultations, record reviews, observations and academic assessments.

2003-2015 SAN MATEO FOSTER CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, SAN MATEO, CA

Special Day Class Teacher and Case Manager, Middle School Level

PTA Honorary Service Award 2015

1985-2000 CHLOE, BURLINGAME, CA

    OWNER

1981-1986          REDWOOD CITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, REDWOOD CITY CA

                              Assistant Resource Specialist, Middle School Level

1975-1980           BURLINGAME ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT, BURLINGAME, CA

                               Instructional Aide Third Grade / College Student

Professional Affiliations

Council for Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)

Special Education Advocate Training / SEAT 2015-2016

Community Alliance For

Special Education

Contracted Advocate

Advocates For Special Education

Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County

Natalie Lanam Justice Center

Volunteer Advocate

Special Education Project